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Entry pathway and potential impacts of microplastics in air, water, soil and human health: a review
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Researchers reviewed microplastic pathways and impacts across air, water, soil, and human tissues, highlighting that airborne particles adsorb additional chemical pollutants, marine organisms face both mechanical harm and trophic transfer of contaminants, soil uptake by plants extends exposure up the food chain, and microplastics have now been detected in every human tissue type examined.
In this study, we discuss the existence and impact of microplastics in different ecosystems, including water, soil, air, and the human body, as well as the absorption of pollutants into these microplastic particles. Airborne microplastics have been detected in the atmosphere as well as indoors and outdoors. Microplastics in the air, in addition to inherent toxicity, may cause more risks to human health and the environment than virgin microplastics through the absorption of pollutants and chemicals. Due to the widespread use of plastics around the world, the abundance of microplastics in aquatic environments has increased. Microplastics can be ingested by a wide range of marine organisms, so it is possible that contaminated microplastics cause mechanical damage to organisms and there is also the possibility of contamination being transmitted to marine organisms and the marine food web. Accumulation of microplastics in the soil can cause them to be absorbed by plants and transport these microplastic particles and pollutants absorbed by them along the food chain. Highly populated urban centers, industries or large-scale agriculture are the main causes of soil contamination by microplastics. Microplastics can find their way into the food we eat, the water we drink, and even the air we breathe. Researchers were able to find microplastic particles in all human tissues studied.
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Researchers characterized microplastic pollution across air, water, and soil environments, finding that each medium requires distinct sampling and detection approaches and that current analytical methods remain limited in their ability to fully assess microplastic health risks across environmental compartments.
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Researchers reviewed the occurrence, distribution, and health hazards of airborne microplastics in indoor and outdoor environments, finding that inhalation is a significant and underappreciated exposure route with potential respiratory and systemic health consequences.
Microplastics in ambient air: a review of atmospheric abundance, human exposure and urgent research needs
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This review pulled together findings from 84 studies to show that tiny plastic bits called microplastics are floating in the air everywhere, indoors, outdoors, in cities, and even in remote places like Antarctica, with tiny plastic fibers being the most common type found. Since we're breathing this stuff in daily, early research links it to lung inflammation, cell damage, and metabolic problems, though scientists say we still need more studies to understand exactly how much exposure is harmful and over what timeframe.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.